Flower stem winding machine



0t.117,`195o E. @KELLER `2,526,368

FLowER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June- 14, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 14 /f ml muw- J v P ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1950 E. G. KELLER 2,526,368

FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1946 '8 sheets-sheet 2 INV N'roR ERNEST E. KELLER ATTORNEY OC- 17 1950 E G. KELLER 2,526,368

` FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed'June 14, 1946 s sheets-sheet 5 lNvE TOR ERNESTI. KELLER US ATTORNEY oct. 17, 41950 E. G. KELLER 2,526,368

FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIII u mulll lNVNTOR ERNEST .KELLER l e z ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1950 E. G KELLER 2,526,368

FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTR y g ERNESTGKELLER a BY l ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1950 E. G. KELLER 2,526,368

FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Ot. 17, 1950 -E, G, KELLER l' 2,526,368

FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 g U] lm. Illl NI I w' s l. o M* n wh i z n w 5 ff L l g 'g5 I I a n,

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INVE TOR ERNEST .KELLER oct. 17, 195o E. G. KELLER FLOWER STEM WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1946- 8 sheets-sheet. s

v IIHHH INVENT R. ERNEST .KELLER j' ATTORNEY Patented ct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES TENT ormel 2 Claims.

said head at a speed synchronized with the speed of rotation of the winding head to enable a simultaneously wrapping or covering of said trunk stem with a tape or tapes of paper or like material and the fastening thereto of subsidiary stems of flowers, while controlling the layering of the tape and providing an even spiraling pitch thereof that will fix the width of the exposed and lapped portions of the wrapping tapes. f Y' Another object of my invention is the provision, in a machine of the type specified, of means for manually adjusting the speed of the variablespeed mechanism to permit ready and easy synchronization and conformance thereof to the speed of rotation of the head and of varying diameters of trunk stems.

Another obj ect of my invention is the provision, in a machine of the character specified, of tapeguiding means preferably comprising tapered guide rolls for applying the tape onto the trunk stem in a spiral path and for causing the tape to be guided around the axis of the trunk stem on a proper bias in relation to the edges of the tape, and thus to procure an even, tight and smooth wrapping or layering of the tape on the surface of the trunk stem at a suitable pitch.

Still another Yobject of my invention is, 'in va machine of the type specified, to provide meansv whereby the entire length of the trunk stem may be projected through the winding head and through the winding area adjacent thereto so as to enable even and smooth winding or wrapping of the entire surface thereof.

Still another objectfof my invention is,in. a

machine of the character specified, to combine atape-winding head and means for actuating theV same at a fixed speed of rotation with a stempropulsion means having an loperativeconnection with a speed-varying gearing in order to produce a suitable synchronization and a prede.

said speeds to trunk stems of varying diameters being covered or wrapped. K

Still another object of my invention is, ina

ally operable element having a screw-adjustment for adjusting the speed of the trunk-stem propelling mechanism to synchronize the same with the speedV of rotation of the winding head.

Another object of my invention is to utilize mechanism by which .a plurality of strips of paper-tape may be applied simultaneously to cover a single stem, to fasten thereto branch stems and to centralize trunk. stemsduring tight winding. With these and other objects in View, the in. vention'comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and

' comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l isa View in side elevation of a motordriven machine embodying my invention including a propelling mechanism and a winding head;

Fig, l2 is an enlarged View in side elevation of the propelling mechanism and `winding head shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged View in plan of the propelling mechanism and head shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged central vertical section of the propelling mechanism and head shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive;

Fig. vo is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 of the tape-feeding guidemeans of the head;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of Fig. 10'is a View in side elevation similar to Fig- 1 of a modified form of mechanism to support the rear end of a trunk-stem during wrapping;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section taken at the forward edge of the tape-spools and through a paste-applying mechanism shown in Fig. 10;y

Fig. l2 is a section on the line l2-|2 of Fig. 10 looking' in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 isa section on the line IS-i' of Fig. l0 looking in-the direction of the arrows;l

machine of the type specified, to utilize a manu-.f-'- Fig. :141s a section similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified and preferred form of paste-applying mechanism; and

Fig. l is a section on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, A indicates a mounting platform or table on the upper surface of which I mount my winding head and trunk-stern propelling mechanism. Said propelling and winding mechanism are driven by an electric motor M mounted, as shown, on a bracket B xed on the under-surface of the platform A and operatively connected .by suitable power-transmission mechanism P for supplying power to a power shaft S which, through drive pulley I fixed thereon and belt II, transmits power to driven pulley I2 xed on hollow drum l through which power is supplied for actuating said head and propelling mechanism.

In the embodiment of my invention shown, I mount on the table or platform a base member I3 provided with a bearing I4 in which the hollow drum Il is rotated by the pulley I2. A pulley I5 is also, as shown, xedly connected with said pulley I2 and hollow drum I'I and transmits power through an intervening Variable-speed device or gear i8 to a trunk-stem propelling mechanism I3 including a knurled propelling roller 33. As illustrated, the pulley I5 is provided with a belt I9 which rotates a variable-speed pulley 2 provided with a conventional variable-speed mechanism a. Pulley 20 is mounted on and adapted to rotate a shaft 2I, which in turn rotates a pulley 22 connected by belt 23 with a pulley 213, also provided with conventional variable-speed mechanism 24a. Pulley 2d in turn actuates a shaft 25 connected with a worm gear mounted in a gear box 23a and comprising a worm shaft 25 and worm wheel 21. The worm wheel 2'1 of said worm gear is mounted on and rotates a shaft 28 mounted in bearing I4a and having xed thereon a gear wheel 23 meshing with a gear wheel 33 mounted on a shaft 3l which rotates the knurled roller 33. The roller 33 and shaft 3I are supported in one arm 32l of a crank 32 pivoted on the shaft 28, the other arm 32la of said crank being connected by link 34 with a pressure crank-arm 35 pivoted at 356L to a projecting bearing Mb and having mounted therein a pressure roller 36 adapted to register with the knurled roller 33. The cranks and links thus described provide for a relative separating movement of the rollers 33 and 35, and in lo-wered position the crank 35 is arranged to cause pressure to be applied by said rollers 33 and 36 against a trunk-stem TS being propelled through the machine by the knurled roller 33.

The handle 3l connected to the crank arm' 35 is adapted to permit manual separation of the rollers 33 and 36 and particularly to lift the roller 36 away from and to free the roller 33.

Suitable means for guiding the trunk stem TS axially through the machine is preferably provided and, as illustrated, a hollow pipe 38 is adjustably mounted in a chuck 39 and projects forwardly therefrom into a position adjacent to the rollers 33 and 35. As shown, the chuck 39 is mounted on a rod 43 adjustable by a split collar 4I arranged at the end of a shelf arm 42 which is also adjustably mounted on a stand 43 supported on a base 432v and preferably having suitably mounted at its upper end a grooved roller 44 which is adapted to support a trunk-stem TS or its extension member hereinafter specified. IV

also preferably provide atrtheopposite or forward side of the rollers 33 and 35 a hollow tube or pipe 45 which extends to a position close to the outer end of the drum' I1 and in adjacency with the winding mechanism of a winding head i6 supported upon and rotated by said drum. As illustrated, the guide tube or pipe 45 is mounted and supported at its forward end in an axially-disposed collar 4l which is in turn supported by a disc 43 extending and connected to the drum I'I by set screws 48a.

The winding head 45 comprises a face plate or disc I9 provided with a central opening 56 for the passage therethrough of the trunk stem TS and having surrounding said opening 5I) a series of tape-guide members hereinafter more particularly described. The winding head 4@ and its face plate 49 is rotated from the drum I'I4 and, as shown, said face plate is mounted and securely fastened to the outer ends of spaced arms 5I projecting outwardly parallel with the path of movement of the stem TS and-with the axis of the tube 45. As illustrated, pairs of such spaced arms 5I are mounted to project from the face I2a of the pulley I2, and are suitably fastened thereto. and rotate therewith.

In the instant machine, these arms are arranged in pairs and the plate or disc fle abuts the ends and is securely fastened thereto.

A bushing I2lo is applied between the bearing sleeve I4a which is fastened to the bearing I4 to form a hub on which the bushing I2lo is mounted and on which the pulleys I2 and I5 rotate.

Each pair of the arms 5I have supported thereon a spool 53 of paper-tape PT. The spools are rotatably supported on brackets 52 and the paper tape, in the embodiment shown, passes through oppositely positioned radial slots 54 in the face plate L49 and thence is guided as more particularly shown in Fig. 4 over guide fingers 55 mounted adjacent to said slots, thence the tapes are led in opposite directions around a pair of erecting spools 56, thence over another pair of similar spools 57, thence over a pair of adjustable tensioning members 58 preferably comprising knurled tape-tensioning rollers tensioned by a suitable coiled spring and finally are led over a pair of inwardly-tapered guide members 63 which guide the paper tape on to the surface of the trunk-stem and apply the tape thereto in a spiral path at a suitable bias in relation to the edges of the tape and at an angle to the axis of the stem, and also will cause the tape to be guided around the trunk-stern at such bias as to produce a suitable pitch of spiralling to provide a proper width of exposed wrapper and a suitable overlap and also to produce an even, tight and smooth wrapping or layering of the tape on the surface of the trunk-stem at such pitch.

In operation of the machine described, I preferably provide pedal mechanism for stopping and starting the machine and, as illustrated, I provide a braking clutch member 6I which is connected to a treadle rod 52 but normally holds the machine through spring 63 in operative condition, but upon depression of the rod 62 permits the machineV to be started and continued running so long as said rod is depressed but will be immediately stopped when the operator takes his or her foot off a suitable treadle.

An important feature of my invention provides for manually varying the spe-ed of the speed-variable gearing hereinabove specied, and tothis end, I mount two of the pulleys of my Variablespeed gearing on one arm of a pivoted crank and ,provide means for adjustably moving the opposite 8 arm of said crank t'o vary the diameter ofthe pulleys of said variable-speed gearing. As shown, a pivot 85 is supported in bearings 66 on the base I3, a two-armed crank member E1 is pivotally mounted on said pivot. I provide on one arm I'Ia of said pivoted crank bearings 68 for the shaft 2| of the wheels 29 and 22 of said variable speed gearing and the opposite arm 81h of said pivoted crank is provided with an adjusting-screw device comprising a screw-threaded member 69 having its threads meshing with an internal thread in a nut portion lil near the end of the crank arm, said screw beingprovided at its top end with a handle EIl to permit movement thereof against -the metal base plate I3 of the machine to radjustably move the opposite arm 81a outward or inward about the pivot 85 and thus to cause the embedding of the belts in the grooves of said Wheels-29 and 22 and thechanging or variation of vthe diameters thereof, so as to vary the speed of the variable speed gear and consequently to vary the propulsion of the trunk-stem.

. Under certain conditions, it is desirable to apply glue to the trunk-stem prior to the application of the paper-tape and I have, therefore, shown'embodied in my machine a paste pot 'I2 which, as more particularly shown in Figs. and 11, comprises an annular container 'I3 having an internal bore I4 provided with a cylindrical wall arranged concentrically with the trunk-stem TS and being provided with dispensing nozzle in which is seated a brush or wick 'I6 adapted to carry paste from the annular container 'I3 to the said trunk-stem TS. As illustrated, said container is provided with attaching brackets TI mounted on the shank portions of two diagonally disposed arms 5I. The operation of this paste'device will be obvious.

It is necessary that the trunk-stem be moved through the machine after the end thereof leaves the propulsion rollers, and inFigs. l5 and 'l I have 6 In' this construction, the rouer su is driven through the shaft 28 that controls the rotation of the propelling roller 33 so that said rollers 88 and 33 will be synchronized. As shown, the roller 80 is mounted on a stub-shaft 8l supported in one arm 82a of a crank lever 82 and rotated by a gear wheel 83 which meshes with another gear 84 on a shaft 85 mounted in a bearing 86a in the standard 88. The other arm 82b of the crank 82 Vis provided with means for adjusting the position of the crank 82 so as to provide suitable pressure on the roller 80, and, as illustrated, this arm 821o is provided with a slot 86 which is engageable with a xed screw 81 on the standard. At the top of the standard I also preferably pivot on pivot 88a a hand-operated lever 88 provided with a pressure roller 89 mounted in a forked downwardly projecting bearing 89a registering with the roller 80 and adapted to engage the upper surface of the trunk-stem TS in cooperation with said roller 80. This lever 88 is preferably held in position to cause roller 8U to so engagethe stem TS by an expansion rspring 90 stretched between the shank of the lever 88 and the standard. The lever 88 is also preferably provided with a handle 9I adapted to permit manual swinging of the roller upwardly out of the way and to free the roller 80 so as to permit the manual disengagement of the stem TS from both rollers 88and 89 after the wrapping is concluded. The gear 84 is preferably operated through a chain 92 from a gear 93,

' and in this construction the propelling mechashown my preferred method which comprises means for pushing the rear end of the trunkstem through the machine and beyond the tapeapplying area at the front of the head. In the construction illustrated in these figures, I provide a tube 'I8 of substantially similar diameter to the trunk-stem TS. One end of this tube is provided with an internal thread 'I9 and the rear end of the trunk-stem, which is preferably of softer material than the extension tube 18, will be screwed into the end of the tube. The internal screw threads 'i9 will thus bite into the end of said tube so as to form a secure connection therewith. The tube so fastened is fed through the propulsion rollers and obviously, the tube 'I8 should be of a length somewhat longer than the distance between the propelling rollers and the winding head of the machine so that the rear end of the trunk-stem will be pushed thereby through the machine. When the end of the trunk-stem passes beyond the winding head, the tube may be turned to release the connected portion which may be covered or wound with tape.

In Figs. 10 and 13, I have shown a modified means of providing for the movement of a trunkstem TS completely through the machine. Thus, in Fig. 10 I have mounted at the forward side of the head a power-rotated pulling roller 88 and a pressure roller 89 in contact therewith. These rollers are adapted to engage the projected forward end of the stem TS and to guide and pull the stem through the head after the opposite end thereof leaves the propelling rollers 32-38.

nisms at the rear of the machine and at the forward part of the machine are synchronously driven by connecting sprocket 93 through chain 94, spocket 95 and chain 98 with a sprock-et 91 fast on the shaft 28 through which the .propelling roller 33 is driven. The winding head, variable-speed pulleys and other mechanism in this embodiment are in all respects substantially similar to that hereinabove described. Y

Referring now to Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings, I have shown my preferred form of mechfanism for applying paste to a trunk-stem TS before the winding of tape thereon. In these figures, a head-plate-disc 981 has a perimetric flange adapted to t over the forward edge of the hollow bearing or axle Illa and, as shown, the disc is held in place and is removably fastened or secured to the hollow axle Ida by a set screw 48b and forms a mounting member for the pasteapplying mechanism hereinafter specified. Said mounting disc or head plate 481, in the embodiment shown, has xedly mounted thereon a paste receptacle 98 provided with a rotatablymounted paste-transfer roller or Wheel 99 which, as shown, is provided with flanges IUI and dips into a body of paste P in the receptacle 98. By frictional contact with the stem, the roller 99 rotates to transmit paste P to the trunk-stem TS. In the embodiment shown, the mounting disc 481 is provided with a central or axial opening 48C through which the guide tube .45 eX- tends. The trunk-stem TS, when the machine is operated, passes through this tube and rides upon the flanges I8I of the transfer roller 99. As illustrated, the roller 99 is rotatably mounted in the receptacle and for this purpose is provided with axles Ill adapted to t into bearing slots |82 in the side edges of the receptacle 98. The roller 99 is thus, when properly adjusted, adapted to contact with the trunk-stem and to be rotated thereby. The flanges form a V-shaped groove in the peripheral surface of the roller and in View of the position of the trunk-stem in..

said groove between or within the flanges ISI, it will be, upon rotation of the transfer roller, coated with paste, any excess of which may be removed in conventional manner.

The receptacle 98 is, as shown, fixedly mounted upon a U-shaped fastening plate ID3 provided with upwardly extending flat forks |03a 'each of which has a slot |04 adapted to extend beneath set screws E95 engaged in the disc 481 and having knurled knobs so as to enable manual adjustment of the fastening plate in relation to the disc 481. While the flanges IDI and the V-shaped groove formed thereby permit the feeding of paste to stems of varying diameters within certain limits, the aforesaid adjustability enables adjustable movement of the receptacle 98 for the purpose of inserting feeding or transfer rollers 99 of larger or smaller diameters when it is desired to feed paste to stems of diameters beyond the capacity of said flangedgroove.

The operation of this paste-applying mechanism will be obvious from lthe above description, and it will also be obvious that the movement of the trunk-stem will cause the roller 99 to rotate and thus to transfer paste P from the receptacle to a trunk-stem before the same is wound with tape.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A flower stem-winding machine embodying, in combination, a winding head rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a face plate extending perpendicular to said axis, means for feeding tape to said head, power means for rotating said head, propelling members for feeding a stem to be wrapped through said head, means for transmitting power from said headrotating power means to said propelling members, and a tape-guiding roller member mounted on said winding head to revolve with` said head and also to rotate independently about an axis perpendicular to said face plate, said roller having an inwardly-tapering conical guiding surface for applying the tape onto the stem in a spiral path and for causing the tape to be r: Number Number guided errid the axis of the stem in Suitable relationship to' the edges of the tape, and thus' to procure an even', tight and smooth wrapping or layering of the tape on the surface of the stem ata suitable pitch. u

2. AA ower stem-winding machine embodying; in combination, a winding head rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a face plate ex-4 tending perpendicular to said axis, means for feeding tape to said head, power means for' rotating said head, propelling members for feeding a stem to be wrapped through said head, means for transmitting power from said headrotating power means to said propelling members, and a plurality of tape-guiding roller members each mounted on said winding head to revolve with said head and also to rotate independently about an axis perpendicular to said face plate, each roller having an inwardly-tapering conical guiding surface for applying .the tape onto the stem in a spiral path and for causing a plurality of layers of tapes to be guided around the axis of the stem in suitable relationship to the edges of the tape, and thus to procure an even, tight and smooth wrapping or layering of the tape on the surface of the stem at a suitable pitch.

ERNEST G. KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Grimshaw Oct. 21, 1884 Lynn Dec. 19, 1905 Wiebke Aug. 24, 1915 Davis et al June 27, 1922 Ten Eyck Feb. 17, 1925 McCoy Mar. 10, 1931 Cumfer Mar. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Sept. 19, 1938 

